The United Nations Information Center in Beirut reported that the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has launched a vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza at the ministry's headquarters following the recent arrival of a donation of 10,000 doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine to Lebanon. The statement highlighted that prior to the 2023/24 flu season, the Ministry of Public Health received 10,000 doses of the influenza vaccine last week from the Partnership for Influenza Vaccine International Initiatives (PIVI). On a national level, additional doses may be available for individual purchase in pharmacies or bulk purchasing for private hospitals.
To maximize the impact of the seasonal influenza vaccine, the Ministry of Public Health has prioritized three at-risk population groups based on WHO recommendations:
- Frontline healthcare workers operating in public hospitals, primary healthcare centers, nursing homes, and public cancer/dialysis treatment centers.
- Elderly residents in nursing homes contracted with the Ministry of Public Health.
- Individuals with chronic health conditions, especially dialysis patients covered by the Ministry of Public Health.
The statement noted that seasonal influenza causes significant rates of illness and death worldwide each year. According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza leads to approximately 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness annually and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths due to respiratory complications, particularly among vulnerable populations. Available data indicates that the burden of influenza in Lebanon is estimated at 48.1 per 100,000 patients who are hospitalized due to seasonal influenza. The estimated rate of severe cases caused by seasonal influenza is 12.9 per 100,000, with the highest rates among adults over 65 years old (49.7 per 100,000). In terms of mortality, it is estimated that seasonal influenza causes 347 deaths each season in Lebanon, particularly among adults over 65 years who suffer from chronic diseases.
Minister of Public Health Firas Abyad emphasized two points: first, that the launch of the vaccination campaign against seasonal influenza today, along with the awareness campaign against breast cancer yesterday, reflects that despite all difficulties, the Ministry of Public Health is determined to fulfill all its duties towards protecting the community and its health. He also praised the efforts of the staff working in the Ministry of Public Health and the primary healthcare program.
